EVA Airways buys two simulators in fleet expansion project

2012/05/15 22:23:46

Taipei, May 15 (CNA) Taiwan's second-largest carrier, EVA Airways, signed a deal with the Thales Group of the United Kingdom Tuesday to acquire two flight simulators to train pilots for new aircraft the company will take delivery of later this year.

The new simulators, one for Airbus A320-200 training and the other for the Boeing B777-300ER, will be delivered in September 2013 and March 2014, respectively, the carrier said.

They will be installed at EVA's second training center, which is currently under construction, the carrier added.

According to EVA Airways, it currently has four simulators, one each for the Boeing B747-400, the B777-300ER, the MD-11 and the Airbus A330-200. The simulators are used by EVA's own crew as well as pilots of other airline companies.

EVA pilots have to go through four training programs and tests in the simulators every year to ensure that they have the ability to deal with emergency situations, the carrier said.

The carrier currently has 15 B777-300ER passenger jets in its fleet and recently announced a deal to acquire seven more of this type of aircraft.

It is also expecting the arrival of new A321 jets from the end of this year, the carrier noted.